Shahbaz Announces 100,000 More Laptops For Students

Shahbaz Sharif recalled that during the previous tenure the government had distributed more than 200,000 laptops worth Rs10 billion among top students.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said 100,000 laptops would be distributed among students this year.

Presiding over a meeting of the Education Department, he recalled that during the previous tenure the government had distributed more than 200,000 laptops worth Rs10 billion among top students.

He said laptops were procured and distributed in a transparent manner. He said the government had been focusing on the education sector and special attention was being given to teacher training.

Sharif said the Department for International Development (DFID) had been cooperating to lift the standards of education. He ordered the authorities to expedite computerisation of examination system and installation of water filtration plants at schools.

Commenting on his recent visit to the United Kingdom, the chief minister said British Prime Minister David Cameron and his team had praised the Punjab government’s efforts for providing quality education.

He said several countries had been cooperating for the uplift of education sector.

Shairf said the Knowledge Park, being set up in Lahore, would help improve the standards of higher education.

“The Knowledge Park will be the first international-standard educational centre in South Asia. It will have boarding and lodging facilities for teachers, students, a shopping mall and recreational centres.”

He said the establishment of the park on 852 acres would prove a revolution in the educational economics of South Asia. He said the park was being set up to provide quality higher education to those who could not afford to study abroad.

He said foreign universities would be encouraged to set up their campuses at the park. He said the Information Technology University, Punjab, would also set up a campus there.

The chief minister said an Overseas Pakistanis Commission would soon be set up to resolve problems of Pakistanis living abroad.

“The commission is being established to acknowledge the services of overseas Pakistanis.”

Earlier, Education Secretary Abdullah Sumbal briefed the chief minister about various programmes of the Education Department.

100,000 More Laptops For Bright Students Under PM Youth Programme

100,000 laptops has been purchased from Haier ElectricAppliances Corporation Limited to be distributed among talented youth under Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP).

According to an official communique, the Haier – China based company – won the contract in bidding organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The Haier won the contract through a competitive process conducted by HEC in which major manufacturers of laptops participated. Moreover, Transparency International termed the process as fair and as per PPRA rules.

100,000 laptops would be distributed among young and bright students studying in public sector higher education institutions across the country.

However, this time HEC would be the executing agency responsible for developingcriteria, mechanism, modalities and a road map for procurement and distribution of laptops under this programme.